Apparatus for shaping materials



NOV. 22, 1932. E, E SLICK 1,888,397

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Patented Nov. 22, 1932 EDWIN E. SLICK, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA APPARATUS FOR SHAPING: MATERIALS Application filed April 1'7,

I manufacture, for example, of closures for botw tles and jars, to individually produce both the closure and the jar, and then to assemble the same. With a closure of the threaded type, the threads have been formed apart from the container, and the two parts there- Where other types of closures have been utilized, of a type adapted to be more or less permanently sealed in position, more or less expensive and complicated sealing operations 29 have been resorted to.

In accordance with the present invention,

there is provided a method and apparatus by means of which closures may be given the de-' sired contour while in position on the particular object with which they are designed to co-,

operate, whereby not only is more accurate interengagement of the respective parts insured, but the cost of manufacture is correspondingly reduced.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of apparatus of such nature that the desired forming operations may be carried out under such conditions as to reduce to a minimum any breakage in connection, for example, with the'formation of closures on more or less frangible articles.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown for purposes of illustration only, cer- A tain preferred embodiments of the present invention.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through one type of apparatus constructed in accord ance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on 1929. Serial No. 355,940.

the line IIII of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is a partial detail view, on an enlarged scale, illustrating more clearly certain parts of the apparatus and their manner 0 of operation; and

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating another embodiment of the present invention.

For purposes of convenience in description, the respective parts herein illustrated will be referred to respectively as a closure and a container. It is to be noted, however, that the expression closure is used generically as including within its definition, caps, fill covers, Wrappers, closures, or the like, adapted for the sealing, closing, covering or cooperation with a desired article. The term container is likewise used generically as definitive of a bottle, jar, or other receptacle or object, regardless of its contour, construction, or purpose, to which it is desirable to apply a closure within the definition above given.

In carrying out the present invention, there may be provided a platen 2, over which there is adapted to travel a suitable belt or conveyor 3, on which there are suitably disposed and arranged a series of holders 4.

Positioned within each of the holders prior to the time that any particular holder is brought into position over the platen, is a container 5, having thereon a partially formed closure 6, the shaping of which it is desired to complete or accomplish.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figure 1, the container is shown as having threads 7 formed on its neck whereby it is necessary forthe production of the desired results to produce similar threads in the closure 6.

Of such diameter as to move freely over the upper end of the container and closure is a holder or die 8, within which there is mounted a spider 9, secured to the holder 8 end or head 15 o the spider 9 and threaded for cooperation spider 9 is spring may be of a sleeve 18 The lower end 8 is preferably ii in Figure l, and is c with, and the supp i herein illustrated coinpris band, or sections of elastic l as rubber. This material is rererrec way of example, as a material possessin characteristics, it being essential in accord ance with the present invention that deformation or flow of the shaping 'elementsbe possible during the forming or shaping process.

In accordance with the present invention, a container having a closure thereon as illustrated in Figure 1, is brought into position below the holder or die 8 and the plunger 16 lowered to bring such holder or die into engagement with the holder 4. Thereafter, continued descent of the plunger causes the arms 11 to move relatively to the spider 9, which spider in the meantime, has come into engagement with the upper portion of the closure, as indicated in this figure.

Continued downward movement of the arms 11 causes the compression element 12 to compress the shaping body 19 and squeeze it inwardly into intimate contact with the closure. The parts of the apparatus are so correlated that this compression of the shaping body is suflicient to bring all desired parts of the closure into intimate contact with the container, thereby not only sealing the container, but also simultaneously producing. in the closure interlocking projections, ribs, threads, or the like, cooperating with similar parts on the container itself.

Since the shaping body possesses flow characteristics and is inherently moreor less resilient, or flexible, it will be apparent that it adapts itself automatically to irregularities to either the closure or the container, and

subjects all par-ts thereof within this zone of operation simultaneously to substantially the same pressure conditions, this condition, however, being such that breakage is effectively obviated.

in Figure 3 of the drawing there is illustrated in greater detail and on a larger scale, the operation of the apparatus for the production of a thread on a closure, the figure representing an enlargement of a portion of the structure shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 4 there is shown a slightly modi embodiment of the invention, in which corresponding to the parts already described are designated by the same reference characters having a prime shined thereto. this figure the shaping body 19 is ihustrated in such relation to the container 5 and closure 6" as shape the lower ed e of the closure 6 under the shoulder 20 or the con tainer due to the fact t the top and a the sides of the closure 6 are not requ be shaped. is apparent that the spider iich in this, as in the other case, consti n effect provi .dwith an extension 21 of greater di- "inensions than the corresponding extension illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 and adapted embrace and hold in position that portion of the closure, distortion or shaping of which is not required.

In all cases it will be apparent that the closure may be provided with a suitable sealing gasket, as is customary in the art, a gasket 22 of the character contemplated being indicated in chain lines in Figure 3 of the drawing. a

The advantages of the present invention arise not only from the fact that there is provided an apparatus capable of shaping a closure While in position on a container, but from "the fact that such shaping may be accomplished through the medium of a shaping member or body possessing flow characteristics such as to accommodate itself to irregularities in the arts being operated upon and exert substantially uniform shaping pressure simultaneously to different parts thereof.

While I have herein disclosed certain preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that changes in the construction and operation of the parts as herein disclosed may be made without departing either from the spirit of the present invention or the scope of my claim.

I claim I Forming apparatus comprising a holder adapted to receive a portion of a container having a closure thereon, a compression memher having a plurality of upwardly extending arms thereon, a shaping means having flow characteristics carried by the holder and adapted to cooperate with the closure, a spider formed to provide a plurality of spaced indentations along the periphery quasi-die member, may be 3 thereof adapted to receive the arms of the compression member, said spider being adapted to cooperate With the holder, fastening means for securing the holder and the spider together, a orosshead connecting the upwardly extending arms, and means cooperating with the crosshead for moving the compression member relative to the spider.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWIN E. SLICK. 

